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Sunday, 21 February 2016

Children today carry a lot of heartache around with them. Autism and ADHD are at an all time high, classmates are killing classmates, and parents are pronounced unfit. Yesterday two little children lost their mother to an addiction. When hearing about the hopelessness of those who experience these kinds of pain, we often often feel helpless, not knowing how to assist.

While we may think writing a letter or sending a card is a small action in light of huge issues, it's amazing what finding a bit of love in an envelope can do.

I wrote notes to five children yesterday. I was surprised how long it took me to complete them. Kids love mail. I don't think they care what it says -- which made me think, Am I writing these for the children or for their parents?

I've created some lists for you to help you write to the children in your life, or those who just need an extra bit of joy -- because that's what it does when a child gets mail -- it brings them joy. When my girls were little, if they got mail they would carry it around all day. So share some joy with a child this week. Tuck a fun surprise in the envelope and smile -- you just made a child's day!

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Monday, 15 February 2016

Have you ever tried to outgive God? You will never make any progress; it cannot be done. God's Word tells us that if we give, it will be given to us. And not just a half-hearted response -- No, it's good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over!

We used to sing in Sunday School:

Running over, running over, My cup is full and running over.

Since the Lord saved me, I'm as happy as can be.

My cup is full and running over.

That's what God does. When our grateful hearts are filled to the brim, we experience a filling-the-saucer-and-dripping-on-the-floor kind of running over.

Our team member, Debbie Griggs, felt impressed to include a small check with one of the cards she was writing. That very week God ran her heart's cup over with a shoebox full of greeting and note cards, plus a greeting card organizer -- worth more than the check she enclosed. It was a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over gift.

I have postmarked a lot of mail since January 1st, but my mailbox (at the end of my driveway) is seeing a lot of action! Last week alone I received a thank-you from a grandson, cards from a team member, a favorite friend, and from someone I admire, as well as a box boxful of unique goodies clear from Japan.

Shannon blogs at On This Glorious Homeschool in memory of her son, Elijah (7), who died in a water-related accident. Shannon sent me 3 sets of Japanese stationery, a notebook, and a travelers journal. Would you say Shannon knows me?

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Wednesday, 10 February 2016

I read your letter and it was the most beautiful thing anybody has ever written to me...Other People's Love Letters by Bill Shapiro

Free Printable Stationary Sheets link below

As with A Sheltering Tree, my daughters and granddaughter are involved in Shelter: Postmarked. Currently, their respective schedules limit their time to write, but they are involved in the brain work.

Postmarked Love Letters is an idea Emily shared, and Melanie helped flesh out. It brings me such joy to see my daughters care for their marriage. Fortunately, they come from a long line of happy marriages, but while that is an influence, good marriages don’t happen without willingness to love unselfishly.

Postmarked Love Letters – February through January – is a way to bless your husband every month. You will use one of the suggestions below (or make your own!) and write a love letter to your husband. If your husband is the one to retrieve your household mail, your letters can be mailed (or placed in the mailbox). If not, select an alternative location -- in his work boot, beside his keys, or on the dashboard of his truck. (And if you’re a husband reading this – prop it by her coffee cup on your way out the door.)

Keep your letters concise and focused, going beyond “I love you” and “Thank you all you do for our family.” I’ve created free printable stationary to use for this project.

1. Giving: He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God (Acts 10:2).

Example: In Melanie’s first letter to Shawn she wrote how he gives to God so generously, allowing her to see how the more he gives the more God blesses their family.

2. Safeguards: Each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Example: Thank you for having eyes only for me…giving me your special wink…treating me as queen of the room. Thank you for keeping our private life private and special only to us.

Example: Thank you for listening to all my dreams, fears, and frustrations – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thank you for never sharing what I confide in you. Thank you for not keeping secrets from me.

11. Optimistic Outlook: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength (Proverbs 17:22).

Example: Thank you for being cheerful at home. Thank you for choosing to look at the good in our friends and the world.

12. Humor: We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy (Psalm 126:2).

Example: Thank you for making me laugh even on a “bad” day. I love your (silly puns and “teacher” jokes). I love how you find humor in every situation.

13. You: Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Example: Thank you for always being in my corner – never giving up on “us.”

Extras:

1. Share a memory from dating days.

2. Thank him for something specific he did for you in the last month.

3. Write your vows with, “I would say them all over again.”

4. Tell him how you first knew you loved him.

5. I noticed you did…

6. The most romantic thing you have ever done…

Sample of Stationary: There are twelve different half sheets to use for your letters. Download here: Love Letters Stationary SheetsLet me know if this doesn't download right for you. It does on my computer/printer, but isn't on others. I can send it to you a different way.

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Tuesday, 9 February 2016

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Sunday, 7 February 2016

I was having a little visit with Mrs. Duffy at Letter Matters, when I read that postage used to be paid by the recipient. Mrs. Duffy provided readers with a link to The Guardian and the article: Undelivered letters shed light on 17th-century society. Many of the letter recipients in the late 1600s and early 1700s refused to pay the postage required to receive their mail. These letters were from aristocrats, spies, merchants, publishers, actors and musicians. Either the recipient felt the letters weren’t important enough, or they didn’t have the extra money to retrieve their mail. Today, the sender pays for the mail. The recipient doesn’t pay a cent. Still, there are those who write Refused across their mail without opening it.

In Old Testament days, forgiveness from sins was given when a sacrifice was made. A spotless sacrifice was required and was to be purchased by the sinner. Then Jesus came! The veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom. No longer was a blood sacrifice required. Jesus paid for all our sin! Yet even with “pre-paid” sacrifice, many still refuse His gift. I think a refused, unopened letter is sad. But unopened mail from God, written in the blood of Jesus Christ, stamped with “Refused,” goes much deeper than “sad.” Surely this grieves the heart of Jesus, denying potential recipients the greatest friendship one can possibly experience.

Break the seal on your locked heart. Accept the love and sacrifice of God and His Son, Jesus.

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Meet Pamela

I’m Pamela Kuhn and my passion is encouragement (I call it shelter). I’ve created this space to count postmarks – postmarks on my letters, cards, postcards and happy packages. I’m counting postmarks as a way to continue the legacy of my mother, the queen of mailbox sheltering. I'd love for you count with me.